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VII.
THE AFTERMATH OF RATIFICATION
25 July 1788-5 May 1789
VII-A. Celebrations of New York Ratification
26 July-15 August 1788
Newspapers reported on celebrations in twelve locations throughout
New York: Albany, Ballstown, Dover, Flushing, Half Moon District (in
Waterford), Hurley, New York City, Newburgh, Red Hook, Saratoga,
Schenectady, and Smithtown. Spontaneous celebrations occurred in New
York City and Newburgh on the evening of 26 July, while planned cele-
brations occurred in the other places between 30 July and 15 August.
Nine out-of-state celebrations were reported in Boston, New Brunswick
(N.J.), Newport, Philadelphia, Plymouth (Mass.), Portsmouth (N.H.),
Providence, Springfield, and Wilmington (N.C.).
These celebrations were characterized by flags and banners, illumi-
nated houses, bonfires, militia parades, cannon, musket, and rocket
firings, bell ringing, orations and addresses, and processions of trades-
men, craftsmen, religious leaders, professional men, and public offi-
cials. Impressive bowers and colonnades were constructed, and elegant
dinners were held at which eleven or thirteen toasts were drunk often
with American beer and cider. Dancing was also featured. On the day
after the Half Moon District's celebration, the women of the district,
joined by women from Lansingburgh, held a celebratory procession in
Waterford. The elaborate celebration in Albany mimicked the federal
procession held in New York City on 23 July.
Violence erupted in only one place. When news of ratification ar-
rived in New York City at night on 26 July, a mob gathered and marched
through the streets intimidating the occupants of the houses of the
leading Antifederalists, and some of the mob ransacked the printing
office of Antifederalist printer Thomas Greenleaf and destroyed his type.
Albany, Albany County
8 August 1788
See also Abraham G. Lansing to Abraham Yates, Jr., 3 August 1788 (RCS:N.Y,
2444).
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